Tensions at Korle-Bu: GAMLS-Chapter, MELPWU demand apology from KODA
A fresh dispute has erupted at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, as Medical Laboratory Scientists push back against what they describe as an attempt by doctors to take control of the hospital’s Central Laboratory. The disagreement has intensified existing tensions between two critical arms of the healthcare system, raising concerns about professional boundaries, patient trust, and institutional stability.
Scientists reject leadership takeover
Medical Laboratory Scientists have strongly opposed calls by the Korle Bu Doctors Association (KODA) to have a Laboratory Physician head the Central Laboratory. According to the scientists, such a move would undermine the autonomy of their profession and disrupt established operational standards.
Speaking at a press conference, Dr. Abdul Hakam Abubakar, Secretary of the Korle-Bu Chapter of the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists, emphasized that laboratory leadership demands specialized expertise unique to trained laboratory professionals.
The expertise debate
At the heart of the dispute lies a fundamental question: who is best qualified to lead a modern medical laboratory?
Dr. Abubakar argued that managing a Central Laboratory requires deep technical knowledge in diagnostic science, quality assurance systems, biosafety protocols, and international standards such as International Organization for Standardization’s ISO 15189. He stressed that these competencies are not typically part of general medical training. The scientists maintain that transferring leadership to professionals regulated by the Medical and Dental Council—which does not oversee laboratory scientists—would compromise the independence and integrity of laboratory services.
Disputed claims over test accuracy
Fueling the controversy are claims by KODA that more than 50 percent of laboratory results from the Central Lab are inaccurate. The scientists have firmly rejected this assertion, describing it as “false and disparaging.” They insist the laboratory operates under strict international accreditation by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, ensuring reliable and high-quality diagnostic outcomes. Dr. Abubakar further alleged that referrals to private laboratories are not due to poor quality results, but may be influenced by personal incentives such as commissions and discounts—an accusation that adds another layer of tension to the dispute.
Union joins the fray
The Medical Laboratory Professional Workers Union (MELPWU) has also entered the debate, backing the scientists and demanding a retraction and apology from KODA. Its General Secretary, Dr. Cephas Akortor, dismissed concerns about data accessibility, stating that clinicians already have adequate access to laboratory results through digital systems. He described the situation as an attempt to take over laboratory operations—something the union says it will firmly resist.
A history of unresolved conflict
This is not the first time such tensions have surfaced. Similar disputes in 2018 and 2024 led to industrial actions and required intervention from the National Labour Commission and the Ministry of Health. The recurrence of the issue suggests deeper structural disagreements that remain unresolved, despite previous efforts at mediation.
Ultimatum and what lies ahead
The Laboratory Scientists have given KODA until Friday, May 8, to retract their statements and issue a formal apology. Failure to comply, they warn, will trigger a series of actions—though specifics have not yet been disclosed. As the standoff continues, the situation poses risks not only to professional relationships within the hospital but also to patient confidence in one of Ghana’s leading healthcare institutions. The coming days will likely determine whether dialogue prevails or the conflict escalates further.
